Percy Adams Rideout was born on October 16, 1888 in Ashburnham, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Frank H. Rideout and Effie Annette Ward Rideout. A graduate from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he entered the military service and served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a First Lieutenant in the 1st Gas Regiment. He was Killed in Action on October 9, 1918 by a shell fire in Cierges, France at the age of 29 and is now buried in Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and Memorial, Romagne-sous-Montfaucon, Departement de la Meuse, Lorraine, France. He also has a cenotaph located in Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery, Ashburnham, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with Company D, 1st Gas Regiment, A.E.F., at Cierges, France, October 4, 1918. First Lieutenant Rideout made an extended reconnaissance in advance of the outposts, fearlessly exposed himself to enemy machine-gun fire, and was several times knocked down by exploding shells. The information he secured was valuable to the infantry, giving them knowledge of the exact location of machine-gun nests. During the action this officer directed the laying of the smoke barrage from an exposed position, remaining at his station throughout the operation, in spite of severe shell and machine-gun fire, and continuing to display the highest courage until he was killed by shell fire. General Orders No. No. 142, War Department, 1918.